Monday, February 28, 2005

DUBAI — A group of prominent UAE nationals and high-profile professionals have announced the setting up of Dubai International Academy, a new school at Emirates Hills that will open in September 2005, accepting students from Nursery to Grade 9 for the first year.

The school will offer an international education, basing its curriculum (following formal acceptance) on the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) of the Geneva-based International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO). The school will open to Grade 11 the following year....Announcing the establishment of Dubai International Academy, Chairman of the Board, Abdulla Majed Al Ghurair, said: “We are proud to contribute to the development of Dubai and the UAE by establishing a school that will mould our children into responsible citizens empowered with innovative and critical thinking skills and sensitivities vital for success in the 21st century.”

(My emphasis.)

My reading is that the school will seek to draw many Emirati students. Because of the large ex pat community there are many private schools here and some very good. These schools are open to Emiratis, but there a few Emiratis in them. I suspect that a school which had a critical mass of Emirati students would attract more Emiratis from government schools.

I regard this new school as a very important development. If Emiratis students come out of Dubai International Academy better prepared for college than those coming out of government schools, it will put more pressure on government schools to improve.